A brilliant new set of fan posters envisions Avatar: The Last Airbender’s Prince Zuko and his Blue Spirit alter-ego in the style of Disney’s Mulan. The pieces, by artist account vbbyvrt, celebrate both franchises – which are currently peaking in popularity due to the release of the new live-action Mulan on Disney+ and Avatar’s Netflix resurgence – in gorgeous style.
The long-awaited release of the live-action Mulan has been celebrated by many, including fans of the original animated film. Still, it has also attracted its fair share of criticisms. These include the film’s all-white writing team, a feminist message that some feel falls short of being genuinely progressive, and a boycott movement sparked by star Liu Yifei’s past statements in support of the Hong Kong police. Avatar: The Last Airbender’s own planned live-action Netflix adaptation will likely face similar levels of scrutiny for the authenticity of its own various Asian cultural influences. The M. Night Shyamalan Avatar movie was eviscerated by fans for its whitewashed casting, and fears for the Netflix version have risen after the original show’s creators recently departed the project.
The new fan posters, posted to Instagram by vbbyvrt, combine the two beloved franchises stylishly. The artist, who goes by Abby, depicts Zuko in Mulan’s famous “reflection” pose, with the blade of his sword blending his Blue Spirit mask with his familiar, scarred face. In one piece, Zuko wears his season 3 hair and attire, while the other shows him in the rest of his sleek, black Blue Spirit outfit. The bottoms of the posters show Zuko’s name in the iconic Mulan font.
Despite some well-placed criticisms, the new Mulan has been generally praised for its stunning visuals – something fans of Avatar will hope to see in the Netflix adaptation. While Avatar series creators Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino promised the remake would feature racially-appropriate casting across the board, the nature of their departure from the project has caused fans to doubt if that promise will be realized. Hopefully, if the Netflix series does still happen, it will avoid the predominantly-white writing and production teams that Mulan has been criticized for having.
Regardless of these latest live-action ventures, Abby’s posters are a great way to celebrate the parts of both franchises that have made them so treasured and adored. She has a lot more incredible art to follow at vbbyvrt, and you can even buy some fantastic prints of the Zuko posters at her online shop. It’s a great way to support the artist and take home a stunning piece for your wall.
Source: vbbyvrt